Illustrative image Used Standard height
20ft Shipping Container — Used
from $1,400
Wind & watertight · starting price as of Oct 21, 2026
Grades: cargo worthy or wind & watertight
Used Shipping Containers for Sale
Used shipping containers start at $1,400 for a 20ft and $1,900 for a 40ft this week in wind & watertight grade, before delivery, and up to 5 sellers in your region quote them for any address in the 48 contiguous states. They’re retired from ocean fleets and sold in two grades: cargo worthy, still sound enough to pass the CSC exam for sea transport, and wind & watertight, which keeps the weather out and is sold for storage. You’ll also see them listed as used conex boxes, cargo containers or storage containers.
Enter your ZIP code to check that we cover your address. Up to 5 sellers serving it send you their delivered prices after you send your request.
Used models
The cards show each used model’s starting price as of Oct 21, 2026, for the box alone. Delivery from the seller’s depot and the sales tax where you live come on top; check that each quote shows both. What wind & watertight covers. Used 10ft, 20ft high cube, double door and open side units are quoted on request from the new model’s page: 10ft, 20ft high cube, 20ft double door, 20ft open side, 40ft high cube double door, 40ft open side.
The seller’s guarantee. The seller you choose sets what’s guaranteed and for how long, what you can refuse at delivery, how you pay and how you can cancel; check that each quote puts it in writing, so you can compare before you accept. Our service is free, your request goes to up to 5 sellers we’ve checked for licensing and insurance, and you don’t have to accept any quote. What to check in a quote.
Filters: size, height · sort by price
Illustrative image 
Illustrative image Used Standard height
40ft Shipping Container — Used
from $1,900
Wind & watertight · starting price as of Oct 21, 2026
Grades: cargo worthy or wind & watertight
Illustrative image Used High cube
40ft High Cube Shipping Container — Used
from $1,980
Wind & watertight · starting price as of Oct 21, 2026
Grades: cargo worthy or wind & watertight
Illustrative image Used High cube
45ft High Cube Shipping Container — Used
from $5,000
Cargo worthy · starting price as of Oct 21, 2026
Grades: cargo worthy
Illustrative image Used High cube
53ft High Cube Shipping Container — Used
from $9,500
Wind & watertight · starting price as of Oct 21, 2026
Grades: wind & watertight
Used models compared
| Model | From | Inside volume | Condition / grades |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft, used | $1,400 | about 1,170 cu ft (33.1 m³) | Cargo worthy (CW) or wind & watertight (WWT) |
| 40ft, used | $1,900 | about 2,380 cu ft (67.4 m³) | Cargo worthy (CW) or wind & watertight (WWT) |
| 40ft high cube, used | $1,980 | about 2,690 cu ft (76.2 m³) | Cargo worthy (CW) or wind & watertight (WWT) |
| 45ft high cube, used | $5,000 | about 3,000–3,040 cu ft (85–86 m³) | Cargo worthy (CW) |
| 53ft high cube, used | $9,500 | about 3,880 cu ft (110 m³) | Wind & watertight (WWT) |
Used container grades: what each one means
| Grade | What the grade means | What it doesn’t cover | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo worthy (CW) | Structurally sound and wind and watertight, fit to pass the safety exam (CSC) needed to ship cargo by sea | Looks: dents, patches and surface rust are normal. There’s no industry-wide definition, so get the grade in writing | Shipping goods, resale |
| Wind & watertight (WWT) | No holes; the doors close and seal; it keeps wind and rain out | Strength for ocean shipping; it may show more wear than cargo worthy | Dry storage where looks don’t matter |
Used container prices by grade and size
| Grade | 20ft from | 40ft from | 40ft high cube from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo worthy (CW) | $1,550 | $2,060 | $2,130 |
| Wind & watertight (WWT) | $1,400 | $1,900 | $1,980 |
| Listings recorded (WWT) | $1,000–$3,040 | $1,399–$3,850 | $1,550–$3,800 |
Whichever grade you pick, make sure each quote states it in writing. Container grades explained.
Under $1,000? This week the only used containers listed below $1,000 by the sellers we track were two 20ft units at $999, sold as-is: no grade, and no promise they keep water out. How to tell a real offer from a scam.
What to expect from a used container
You’re buying a working box with a history: dented walls, patches of surface rust, an old shipping line’s paint and markings, and a scuffed wooden floor. For storage, none of that matters while it stays wind and watertight, whether it becomes a backyard shed, a job-site storeroom or farm storage. The pictures on this site are illustrative; the grade you order is what defines the condition you get.
What to check on delivery day
- Both doors open, close and lock, and the rubber seals are in place.
- With the doors shut, no daylight shows through the walls or roof from inside.
- The floor has no soft or broken boards.
- The roof has no deep dents where water can pool.
- For cargo worthy: the CSC safety approval plate is on the container. To ship it by sea again, it usually needs a new CSC exam after the sale.
Note any problem on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves.
Are used containers worth it?
For storing things, usually yes: a wind & watertight unit keeps the same weather out as a new one, for roughly half the price ($1,400 against $2,750 new for a 20ft this week). Choose new (one-trip) instead when the container will be a home, office or shop, will sit in plain view, or needs a clean floor and paint. By size: 20ft containers · 40ft containers. For a short job, renting can cost less: a used 20ft rents from $135 a month for 3 months or more. Container rental.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used or second-hand shipping container cost?
Expect to start at $1,400 for a 20ft and $1,900 for a 40ft in wind & watertight grade this week; cargo worthy adds $150–160. Depot listings run well above that, up to about $3,900 for a used 40ft and $4,000 for a used high cube, so compare delivered prices, not just the sticker. This week’s prices for every model.
What is a used conex box?
A used shipping container under another name: “conex” is common US shorthand for a steel shipping container, and a used one comes in the same cargo worthy or wind & watertight grades. What a conex box is.
How long will a used shipping container last?
It has usually had a long career already: the largest container leasing company reports a typical life of 12 to 15 years at sea. Off the water, no one publishes a reliable lifespan. Yours lasts as long as its floor and roof stay dry: set it level, keep it off soggy ground and deal with rust spots before they spread. What to check on delivery day.
Is a used container guaranteed?
By the seller you choose: check in each quote what it guarantees, for how long, and whether you can turn down a container at delivery that fails the test below or isn’t the grade you asked for. The usual promise for a used box is wind and watertightness: no holes, doors that open, close and lock with their seals in place, and no water getting in; with someone outside, step in and pull the doors shut: you shouldn’t see daylight. Dents and surface rust are part of a used container. What to check in a quote.
Where can I buy used shipping, cargo or freight containers?
Container dealers with a depot near you, which keeps delivery cheaper, and online auction sites. Either way, ask for the grade, the delivered price and the shipping depot in writing before you pay. Sellers quote used containers for any address in the 48 contiguous states; enter your ZIP above to check yours.